The pack has also been bolstered with a raft of seasoned campaigners, meaning there is hope of the Dragons enjoying more front-foot ball in 2014/15.

"It could be a pretty exciting back line and hopefully the forwards will get parity up front," said 25-year-old Tovey.

"I'm sure they will be working hard on their scrums and lineouts after this first block of pre-season. If they can hold their own then it will be happy days for us in the backs."

Tovey made 26 appearances for the Dragons last season after returning from his 'sabbatical' with Cardiff Blues.

He is the first to admit that things tailed off towards the end of the campaign after a bright start and knows that he faces a battle for the start at 10 with ex-Italy fly-half Kris Burton, Dorian Jones and Angus O'Brien.

He said: "Angus has had a decent Junior World Championship and the three of us have already been in working hard; it's going to be a tough push to get that jersey at the start of the season.

"Pre-season has been tough so far and hopefully all of the hard work will pay off. The facilities (at the new training base) in Ystrad Mynach are better and the boys are enjoying working on the 4G pitch and the gym.

"If we can put the hours in on the training pitch then hopefully it will show at the start of the season. We certainly can't blame the facilities anymore."

- The Dragons' early bird season ticket offer, with prices starting at £99, ends on Monday

Comments (4)

Hopefully now with a stronger pack in front of him he'll be able to play the type of game he used to when he first started playing for the Dragons. With the backline we've now got, if he can find his best form that backline will be able to do some serious damage in attack. The coaches need to let him play his game rather than just kick, if he plays with a bit more confidence he can be a really good playmaking ten

Hopefully now with a stronger pack in front of him he'll be able to play the type of game he used to when he first started playing for the Dragons. With the backline we've now got, if he can find his best form that backline will be able to do some serious damage in attack. The coaches need to let him play his game rather than just kick, if he plays with a bit more confidence he can be a really good playmaking tenCaerleonboy

Caerleonboy wrote:
Hopefully now with a stronger pack in front of him he'll be able to play the type of game he used to when he first started playing for the Dragons. With the backline we've now got, if he can find his best form that backline will be able to do some serious damage in attack. The coaches need to let him play his game rather than just kick, if he plays with a bit more confidence he can be a really good playmaking ten

Totally agree, he has got to come back a long way to regain his best form, if he can do that with better possession the whole team will benefit.

[quote][p][bold]Caerleonboy[/bold] wrote:
Hopefully now with a stronger pack in front of him he'll be able to play the type of game he used to when he first started playing for the Dragons. With the backline we've now got, if he can find his best form that backline will be able to do some serious damage in attack. The coaches need to let him play his game rather than just kick, if he plays with a bit more confidence he can be a really good playmaking ten[/p][/quote]Totally agree, he has got to come back a long way to regain his best form, if he can do that with better possession the whole team will benefit.SWBorderer

He will do better with more up front beef but the best thing he can do is stop the aimless kicking to the opposition back three, and learn that a good kick is made good by a good follow up and take down of the receiver.
However he does have talent and I hope he can build on it next season.

He will do better with more up front beef but the best thing he can do is stop the aimless kicking to the opposition back three, and learn that a good kick is made good by a good follow up and take down of the receiver.
However he does have talent and I hope he can build on it next season.corpardguy